1
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Lei L, Chen CY, Wang YF, Zhang Y. Identification of mitophagy-related genes and analysis of immune infiltration in the astrocytes based on machine learning in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2024; 368:160-171. [PMID: 39284527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a pervasive mental and mood disorder with complicated and heterogeneous etiology. Mitophagy, a selective autophagy of cells, specifically eliminates dysfunctional mitochondria. The mitochondria dysfunction in the astrocytes is regarded as a critical pathogenetic mechanism of MDD. However, studies on the mitophagy of astrocytes in MDD are scarce. To explore the impact of mitophagy on the astrocytes, we used bioinformatic methods to analyze the correlation between astrocyte-related genes and mitophagy-related genes in MDD. METHODS The microarray dataset of MDD was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and identified astrocyte- and mitophagy-related differentially expressed genes (AMRDEGs). We used three machine learning algorithms to identify hub AMRDEGs and constructed a diagnostic prediction model. Also, we analyzed transcription factor-gene and gene-microRNA interaction networks, and the immune infiltration in MDD and healthy controls. Besides, we performed consensus clustering analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and gene set variation analysis of MDD samples. RESULTS The present research identified 3 hub AMRDEGs (GRN, NDUFAF4, and SNCA), and a good diagnostic model with potential clinical applications was constructed and validated. Besides, we identified 6 transcription factors and 14 microRNAs. The immune infiltration analysis showed that MDD was closely related to immune cells. Gene set variant analysis showed that MDD was related to immune and mitochondrial metabolism and inflammatory signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS We identified 3 hub AMRDEGs, new biomarkers for treating and diagnosing MDD and associated with immuno-inflammation. Our research provides new insights into the early diagnosis and treatment of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Lei
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Cong-Ya Chen
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yu-Fei Wang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
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2
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Simard M, Mélançon K, Berthiaume L, Tremblay C, Pshevorskiy L, Julien P, Rajput AH, Rajput A, Calon F. Postmortem Fatty Acid Abnormalities in the Cerebellum of Patients with Essential Tremor. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s12311-024-01736-4. [PMID: 39215908 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01736-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Fatty acids play many critical roles in brain function but have not been investigated in essential tremor (ET), a frequent movement disorder suspected to involve cerebellar dysfunction. Here, we report a postmortem comparative analysis of fatty acid profiles by gas chromatography in the cerebellar cortex from ET patients (n = 15), Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (n = 15) and Controls (n = 17). Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI)/ phosphatidylserine (PS) were separated by thin-layer chromatography and analyzed separately. First, the total amounts of fatty acids retrieved from the cerebellar cortex were lower in ET patients compared with PD patients, including monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The diagnosis of ET was associated with lower cerebellar levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and PUFA (DHA and ARA) in the PE fraction specifically, but with a higher relative content of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA; 20:3 ω-6) in the PC fraction. In contrast, a diagnosis of PD was associated with higher absolute concentrations of SFA, MUFA and ω-6 PUFA in the PI + PS fractions. However, relative PI + PS contents of ω-6 PUFA were lower in both PD and ET patients. Finally, linear regression analyses showed that the ω-3:ω-6 PUFA ratio was positively associated with age of death, but inversely associated with insoluble α-synuclein. Although it remains unclear how these FA changes in the cerebellum are implicated in ET or PD pathophysiology, they may be related to an ongoing neurodegenerative process or to dietary intake differences. The present findings provide a window of opportunity for lipid-based therapeutic nutritional intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Simard
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Koralie Mélançon
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Room T-2-67 (CHUL) 2705 boul. Laurier, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Line Berthiaume
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Axe Endocrinologie et Néphrologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Cyntia Tremblay
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Room T-2-67 (CHUL) 2705 boul. Laurier, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Laura Pshevorskiy
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Room T-2-67 (CHUL) 2705 boul. Laurier, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Pierre Julien
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Axe Endocrinologie et Néphrologie, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Ali H Rajput
- Division of Neurology, Royal University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Alex Rajput
- Division of Neurology, Royal University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Frédéric Calon
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Room T-2-67 (CHUL) 2705 boul. Laurier, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.
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3
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Gandy A, Maussion G, Al-Habyan S, Nicouleau M, You Z, Chen CXQ, Abdian N, Aprahamian N, Krahn AI, Larocque L, Durcan TM, Deneault E. An Inducible Luminescent System to Explore Parkinson's Disease-Associated Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9493. [PMID: 39273438 PMCID: PMC11395715 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
With emerging genetic association studies, new genes and pathways are revealed as causative factors in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, many of these PD genes are poorly characterized in terms of their function, subcellular localization, and interaction with other components in cellular pathways. This represents a major obstacle towards a better understanding of the molecular causes of PD, with deeper molecular studies often hindered by a lack of high-quality, validated antibodies for detecting the corresponding proteins of interest. In this study, we leveraged the nanoluciferase-derived LgBiT-HiBiT system by generating a cohort of tagged PD genes in both induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived neuronal cells. To promote luminescence signals within cells, a master iPSC line was generated, in which LgBiT expression is under the control of a doxycycline-inducible promoter. LgBiT could bind to HiBiT when present either alone or when tagged onto different PD-associated proteins encoded by the genes GBA1, GPNMB, LRRK2, PINK1, PRKN, SNCA, VPS13C, and VPS35. Several HiBiT-tagged proteins could already generate luminescence in iPSCs in response to the doxycycline induction of LgBiT, with the enzyme glucosylceramidase beta 1 (GCase), encoded by GBA1, being one such example. Moreover, the GCase chaperone ambroxol elicited an increase in the luminescence signal in HiBiT-tagged GBA1 cells, correlating with an increase in the levels of GCase in dopaminergic cells. Taken together, we have developed and validated a Doxycycline-inducible luminescence system to serve as a sensitive assay for the quantification, localization, and activity of HiBiT-tagged PD-associated proteins with reliable sensitivity and efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anelya Gandy
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Gilles Maussion
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Sara Al-Habyan
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research (CORR), Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate (BRDD), Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB), Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Michael Nicouleau
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Zhipeng You
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Carol X-Q Chen
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Narges Abdian
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Nathalia Aprahamian
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Andrea I Krahn
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Louise Larocque
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research (CORR), Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate (BRDD), Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB), Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Thomas M Durcan
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Eric Deneault
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research (CORR), Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate (BRDD), Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB), Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
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4
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Aftab A, Sil S, Nath S, Basu A, Basu S. Intrinsic Disorder and Other Malleable Arsenals of Evolved Protein Multifunctionality. J Mol Evol 2024:10.1007/s00239-024-10196-7. [PMID: 39214891 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10196-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Microscopic evolution at the functional biomolecular level is an ongoing process. Leveraging functional and high-throughput assays, along with computational data mining, has led to a remarkable expansion of our understanding of multifunctional protein (and gene) families over the past few decades. Various molecular and intermolecular mechanisms are now known that collectively meet the cumulative multifunctional demands in higher organisms along an evolutionary path. This multitasking ability is attributed to a certain degree of intrinsic or adapted flexibility at the structure-function level. Evolutionary diversification of structure-function relationships in proteins highlights the functional importance of intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs) which are highly dynamic biological soft matter. Multifunctionality is favorably supported by the fluid-like shapes of IDPs/IDRs, enabling them to undergo disorder-to-order transitions upon binding to different molecular partners. Other new malleable members of the protein superfamily, such as those involved in fold-switching, also undergo structural transitions. This new insight diverges from all traditional notions of functional singularity in enzyme classes and emphasizes a far more complex, multi-layered diversification of protein functionality. However, a thorough review in this line, focusing on flexibility and function-driven structural transitions related to evolved multifunctionality in proteins, is currently missing. This review attempts to address this gap while broadening the scope of multifunctionality beyond single protein sequences. It argues that protein intrinsic disorder is likely the most striking mechanism for expressing multifunctionality in proteins. A phenomenological analogy has also been drawn to illustrate the increasingly complex nature of modern digital life, driven by the need for multitasking, particularly involving media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asifa Aftab
- Department of Zoology, Asutosh College, (affiliated with University of Calcutta), Kolkata, 700026, India
| | - Souradeep Sil
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Seema Nath
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Anirneya Basu
- Department of Microbiology, Asutosh College (Affiliated With University of Calcutta), Kolkata, 700026, India
| | - Sankar Basu
- Department of Microbiology, Asutosh College (Affiliated With University of Calcutta), Kolkata, 700026, India.
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5
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Schepers J, Löser T, Behl C. Lipids and α-Synuclein: adding further variables to the equation. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1455817. [PMID: 39188788 PMCID: PMC11345258 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1455817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) has been connected to several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), that are collected under the umbrella term synucleinopathies. The membrane binding abilities of αSyn to negatively charged phospholipids have been well described and are connected to putative physiological functions of αSyn. Consequently, αSyn-related neurodegeneration has been increasingly connected to changes in lipid metabolism and membrane lipid composition. Indeed, αSyn aggregation has been shown to be triggered by the presence of membranes in vitro, and some genetic risk factors for PD and DLB are associated with genes coding for proteins directly involved in lipid metabolism. At the same time, αSyn aggregation itself can cause alterations of cellular lipid composition and brain samples of patients also show altered lipid compositions. Thus, it is likely that there is a reciprocal influence between cellular lipid composition and αSyn aggregation, which can be further affected by environmental or genetic factors and ageing. Little is known about lipid changes during physiological ageing and regional differences of the lipid composition of the aged brain. In this review, we aim to summarise our current understanding of lipid changes in connection to αSyn and discuss open questions that need to be answered to further our knowledge of αSyn related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christian Behl
- The Autophagy Lab, Institute of Pathobiochemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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6
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Chakraborty G, Patra N. Elucidating the Molecular Basis of 14-3-3 Interaction with α-Synuclein: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations and the Design of a Novel Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitor. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:7068-7085. [PMID: 38857533 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a widespread age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain along with the appearance of protein aggregates, termed as "Lewy bodies" in the surviving neuronal cells. The components of Lewy bodies include proteins such as α-synuclein, 14-3-3, Parkin, and LRRK2, along with other cellular organelles, which, in their native state, perform a plethora of vital biological functions within the human biome. Formation of these aggregates renders these components inactive, thereby interfering with homeostasis. In this regard, the current study attempts to investigate the complexation behavior of all human-based 14-3-3 isoforms with α-synuclein via a combination of classical and enhanced sampling techniques and thereby determine the causality of these protein-protein interactions. The study indicated that upon complexation, the aggregation propensity of both 14-3-3 and α-synuclein increases, and this increment is propelled by the interfacial residues on either protein. Furthermore, mutagenesis studies revealed that Lys214 of 14-3-3 (henceforth termed K214A) is crucial for the formation of this binary complex. Principal component analysis combined with clustering studies unveiled the stability of these complexes in terms of their conformational distribution across the entire MD trajectory. For K214A, these clustered states were sparsely located, thereby making the transitions between them slightly difficult. Dynamic cross-correlation maps (DCCM) revealed the role of residues in the range 80-130 of 14-3-3 having a potential allosteric role in driving this complexation process. Finally, a novel peptide-based supramolecular inhibitor was designed, which exhibited higher proficiency in limiting the 14-3-3/α-synuclein interaction compared to the previous inhibitor model. It was also revealed that the presence of this inhibitor induces structural rigidity in α-synuclein, making changes in its conformations extremely difficult, as observed through Umbrella Sampling studies. Based on available information, the current study provides an insight into the molecular-level understanding of protein-protein interactions underlying Parkinson's disease and adds on to the methods of devising novel therapeutic approaches to treat the same.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gourav Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad 826004, India
| | - Niladri Patra
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad 826004, India
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7
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Mariño L, Belén Uceda A, Leal F, Adrover M. Insight into the Effect of Methylglyoxal on the Conformation, Function, and Aggregation Propensity of α-Synuclein. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400890. [PMID: 38687053 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
It is well-known that people suffering from hyperglycemia have a higher propensity to develop Parkinson's disease (PD). One of the most plausible mechanisms linking these two pathologies is the glycation of neuronal proteins and the pathological consequences of it. α-Synuclein, a key component in PD, can be glycated at its fifteen lysine. In fact, the end products of this process have been detected on aggregated α-synuclein isolated from in vivo. However, the consequences of glycation are not entirely clear, which are of crucial importance to understand the mechanism underlying the connection between diabetes and PD. To better clarify this, we have here examined how methylglyoxal (the most important carbonyl compound found in the cytoplasm) affects the conformation and aggregation propensity of α-synuclein, as well as its ability to cluster and fuse synaptic-like vesicles. The obtained data prove that methylglyoxal induces the Lys-Lys crosslinking through the formation of MOLD. However, this does not have a remarkable effect on the averaged conformational ensemble of α-synuclein, although it completely depletes its native propensity to form soluble oligomers and insoluble amyloid fibrils. Moreover, methylglyoxal has a disrupting effect on the ability of α-synuclein to bind, cluster and fusion synaptic-like vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mariño
- Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdISBa), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra, Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Uceda
- Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdISBa), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra, Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Francisco Leal
- Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdISBa), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra, Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Miquel Adrover
- Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut (IdISBa), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra, Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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8
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Han W, Wei M, Xu F, Niu Z. Aggregation and phase separation of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:6581-6590. [PMID: 38808534 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc01591f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The deposition of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in Lewy bodies serves as a prominent pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent research has revealed that α-Syn can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) during its fibrillization. Over time, the maturation of the resulting condensates leads to a liquid-to-solid phase transition (LSPT) ultimately resulting in the amyloid deposition in cells which is linked to the pathogenesis and development of PD. Herein, we summarize the understanding of α-Syn aggregation which can be described by nucleation and elongation steps to obtain insights into the correlation of protein aggregation, structural polymorphism, and PD progression. Additionally, we discuss the LLPS phenomena of α-Syn and heterotypic cross-amyloid interactions with a focus on aberrant LSPT in the aggregation process. Exploring the underlying mechanisms and interplay between α-Syn aberrant aggregation, pathological phase transitions, and PD pathogenesis will shed light on potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanlu Han
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Mengrui Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Zheng Niu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
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9
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Calis S, Gevaert K. The role of Nα-terminal acetylation in protein conformation. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38923676 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Especially in higher eukaryotes, the N termini of proteins are subject to enzymatic modifications, with the acetylation of the alpha-amino group of nascent polypeptides being a prominent one. In recent years, the specificities and substrates of the enzymes responsible for this modification, the Nα-terminal acetyltransferases, have been mapped in several proteomic studies. Aberrant expression of, and mutations in these enzymes were found to be associated with several human diseases, explaining the growing interest in protein Nα-terminal acetylation. With some enzymes, such as the Nα-terminal acetyltransferase A complex having thousands of possible substrates, researchers are now trying to decipher the functional outcome of Nα-terminal protein acetylation. In this review, we zoom in on one possible functional consequence of Nα-terminal protein acetylation; its effect on protein folding. Using selected examples of proteins associated with human diseases such as alpha-synuclein and huntingtin, here, we discuss the sometimes contradictory findings of the effects of Nα-terminal protein acetylation on protein (mis)folding and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Calis
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
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10
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Inciardi I, Rizzotto E, Gregoris F, Fongaro B, Sosic A, Minervini G, Polverino de Laureto P. Catechol-induced covalent modifications modulate the aggregation tendency of α-synuclein: An in-solution and in-silico study. Biofactors 2024. [PMID: 38801346 DOI: 10.1002/biof.2086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) stands as a challenging neurodegenerative condition characterized by the emergence of Lewy Bodies (LBs), intracellular inclusions within dopaminergic neurons. These LBs harbor various proteins, prominently including α-Synuclein (Syn) aggregates, implicated in disease pathology. A promising avenue in PD treatment involves targeting Syn aggregation. Recent findings from our research have shown that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET) possess the ability to impede the formation of Syn fibrils by disrupting the aggregation process. Notably, these compounds primarily engage in noncovalent interactions with the protein, leading to the formation of off-pathway oligomers that deter fibril growth. Through proteolysis studies and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, we have identified potential covalent modifications of Syn in the presence of DOPAC, although the exact site remains elusive. Employing molecular dynamics simulations, we delved into how DOPAC-induced covalent alterations might affect the mechanism of Syn aggregation. Our findings indicate that the addition of a covalent adduct on certain residues enhances fibril flexibility without compromising its secondary structure stability. Furthermore, in the monomeric state, the modified residue fosters novel bonding interactions, thereby influencing long-range interactions between the N- and C-termini of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Inciardi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Rizzotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Benedetta Fongaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alice Sosic
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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11
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Liang X, Andrikopoulos N, Tang H, Wang Y, Ding F, Ke PC. Nanoplastic Stimulates the Amyloidogenesis of Parkinson's Alpha-Synuclein NACore. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308753. [PMID: 37988678 PMCID: PMC10994764 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Environmental plastic wastes are potential health hazards due to their prevalence as well as their versatility in initiating physical, chemical, and biological interactions and transformations. Indeed, recent research has implicated the adverse effects of micro- and nano-plastics, including their neurotoxicity, yet how plastic particulates may impact the aggregation pathway and toxicity of amyloid proteins pertinent to the pathologies of neurological diseases remains unknown. Here, electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) is employed to reveal the polymorphic oligomerization of NACore, a surrogate of alpha-synuclein that is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. These data indicate that the production rate and population of the NACore oligomers are modulated by their exposure to a polystyrene nanoplastic, and these cellular assays further reveal an elevated NACore toxicity in microglial cells elicited by the nanoplastic. These simulations confirm that the nanoplastic-NACore association is promoted by their hydrophobic interactions. These findings are corroborated by an impairment in zebrafish hatching, survival, and development in vivo upon their embryonic exposure to the nanoplastic. Together, this study has uncovered the dynamics and mechanism of amyloidogenesis elevated by a nanoplastic trigger, shedding a new light on the neurological burden of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufang Liang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Nicholas Andrikopoulos
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Huayuan Tang
- College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100, China
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Pu Chun Ke
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
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12
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Grewal A, Sheokand D, Saini V, Kumar A. Molecular docking analysis of α-Synuclein aggregation with Anle138b. Bioinformation 2024; 20:217-222. [PMID: 38711999 PMCID: PMC11069604 DOI: 10.6026/973206300200217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein aggregation into toxic oligomeric species is central to Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. Anle138b is a recently identified inhibitor of α-synuclein oligomerization showing promise in preclinical studies. This study employed computational approaches to elucidate Anle138b's mechanism of oligomer-specific action. The inhibitory potential of Anle138b against α-synuclein oligomers was evaluated by performing molecular docking studies using AutoDock Tools, followed by their binding pocket analysis. Further, protein-protein docking studies were performed using Hex8.0 to validate the aggregation inhibitory potential of Anle138b. Molecular docking revealed increasing binding affinity of Anle138b against higher order α-synuclein oligomers (dimer to decamer). Anle138b occupied oligomeric cavity and interacted with residues Thr54, Gly73, Val74 and Thr75 across several oligomers. Protein-protein docking showed that Anle138b interferes with α-synuclein decamer formation. These results highlight the oligomer-directed inhibitory mechanism of Anle138b, without hindering the monomeric forms and provide molecular insights to advance its therapeutic development for Parkinson's and related synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annu Grewal
- Toxicology and Computational Biology Group, Centre for Bioinformatics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Deepak Sheokand
- Toxicology and Computational Biology Group, Centre for Bioinformatics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Vandana Saini
- Toxicology and Computational Biology Group, Centre for Bioinformatics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Ajit Kumar
- Toxicology and Computational Biology Group, Centre for Bioinformatics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
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13
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Martinez Pomier K, Ahmed R, Huang J, Melacini G. Inhibition of toxic metal-alpha synuclein interactions by human serum albumin. Chem Sci 2024; 15:3502-3515. [PMID: 38455030 PMCID: PMC10915811 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06285f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Human serum albumin (HSA), the most abundant protein in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, not only serves as a crucial carrier of various exogenous and endogenous ligands but also modulates the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins, including alpha synuclein (αSyn), which is associated with Parkinson's disease and other α-synucleinopathies. HSA decreases αSyn toxicity through the direct binding to monomeric and oligomeric αSyn species. However, it is possible that HSA also sequesters metal ions that otherwise promote aggregation. Cu(ii) ions, for example, enhance αSyn fibrillization in vitro, while also leading to neurotoxicity by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, it is currently unclear if and how HSA affects Cu(ii)-binding to αSyn. Using an integrated set of NMR experiments, we show that HSA is able to chelate Cu(ii) ions from αSyn more efficiently than standard chelators such as EDTA, revealing an unexpected cooperativity between the HSA metal-binding sites. Notably, fatty acid binding to HSA perturbs this cooperativity, thus interfering with the sequestration of Cu(ii) ions from αSyn. We also observed that glycation of HSA diminished Cu(ii)-binding affinity, while largely preserving the degree of cooperativity between the HSA metal-binding sites. Additionally, our results show that Cu(ii)-binding to HSA stabilizes the interactions of HSA with αSyn primarily at two different regions, i.e. the N-terminus, Tyr 39 and the majority of the C-terminus. Our study not only unveils the effect of fatty acid binding and age-related posttranslational modifications, such as glycation, on the neuroprotective mechanisms of HSA, but also highlights the potential of αSyn as a viable NMR-based sensor to investigate HSA-metal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rashik Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University ON L8S 4M1 Canada
| | - Jinfeng Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University ON L8S 4M1 Canada
| | - Giuseppe Melacini
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University ON L8S 4M1 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4M1 Canada
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14
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Jeong A, Park SJ, Lee EJ, Kim KW. Nanoplastics exacerbate Parkinson's disease symptoms in C. elegans and human cells. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133289. [PMID: 38157817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of nanoplastics in our environment due to the widespread use of plastics poses potential health risks that are not yet fully understood. This study examines the physiological and neurotoxic effects of these minuscule nanoplastic particles on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as well as on human cells. Here, we find that 25 nm polystyrene nanoplastic particles can inhibit animal growth and movement at very low concentrations, with varying effects on their surface groups. Furthermore, these nanoplastic particles not only accumulate in the digestive tract but also penetrate further into extraintestinal tissues. Such nanoplastics significantly compromise the integrity of the intestinal barrier, leading to "leaky gut" conditions and cause mitochondrial fragmentation in muscles, which possibly explains the observed movement impairments. A striking discovery was that these nanoplastics exacerbate symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease (PD), including dopaminergic neuronal degeneration, locomotor dysfunction, and accumulation of α-Synuclein aggregates. Importantly, our study demonstrates that the detrimental effects of nanoplastics on the aggregation of α-Synuclein extend to both C. elegans and human cell models of PD. In conclusion, our research highlights the potential health hazards linked to the physicochemical properties of nanoplastics, underlining the urgency of understanding their interactions with biological systems. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: The escalating prevalence of nanoplastics in the environment due to widespread plastic usage raises potential health risks. Studies conducted on C. elegans indicate that even low concentrations of 25 nm polystyrene nanoplastics can impair growth and movement. These particles accumulate in the digestive system, compromising the intestinal barrier, causing "leaky gut", as well as inducing Parkinson's-like symptoms. Importantly, in both C. elegans and human cell models of Parkinson's disease, such nanoplastics penetrate tissues or cells and increase α-Synuclein aggregates. This underscores the urgent need to understand the interactions of nanoplastics with biological systems and highlights potential environmental and health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoung Jeong
- Department of Life Science and Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, South Korea
| | - Soo Jung Park
- Department of Brain Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea
| | - Eun Jeong Lee
- Department of Brain Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea.
| | - Kyung Won Kim
- Department of Life Science and Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, South Korea.
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15
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da Silva ANR, Pereira GRC, Bonet LFS, Outeiro TF, De Mesquita JF. In silico analysis of alpha-synuclein protein variants and posttranslational modifications related to Parkinson's disease. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30523. [PMID: 38239037 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is among the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, affecting over 10 million people worldwide. The protein encoded by the SNCA gene, alpha-synuclein (ASYN), is the major component of Lewy body (LB) aggregates, a histopathological hallmark of PD. Mutations and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in ASYN are known to influence protein aggregation and LB formation, possibly playing a crucial role in PD pathogenesis. In this work, we applied computational methods to characterize the effects of missense mutations and PTMs on the structure and function of ASYN. Missense mutations in ASYN were compiled from the literature/databases and underwent a comprehensive predictive analysis. Phosphorylation and SUMOylation sites of ASYN were retrieved from databases and predicted by algorithms. ConSurf was used to estimate the evolutionary conservation of ASYN amino acids. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of ASYN wild-type and variants A30G, A30P, A53T, and G51D were performed using the GROMACS package. Seventy-seven missense mutations in ASYN were compiled. Although most mutations were not predicted to affect ASYN stability, aggregation propensity, amyloid formation, and chaperone binding, the analyzed mutations received relatively high rates of deleterious predictions and predominantly occurred at evolutionarily conserved sites within the protein. Moreover, our predictive analyses suggested that the following mutations may be possibly harmful to ASYN and, consequently, potential targets for future investigation: K6N, T22I, K34E, G36R, G36S, V37F, L38P, G41D, and K102E. The MD analyses pointed to remarkable flexibility and essential dynamics alterations at nearly all domains of the studied variants, which could lead to impaired contact between NAC and the C-terminal domain triggering protein aggregation. These alterations may have functional implications for ASYN and provide important insight into the molecular mechanism of PD, supporting the design of future biomedical research and improvements in existing therapies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloma N R da Silva
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel R C Pereira
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz Felippe Sarmento Bonet
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joelma F De Mesquita
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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16
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Sonuç Karaboğa MN, Ünal MA, Arı F, Sezgintürk MK, Özkan SA. An innovative method for the detection of alpha synuclein, a potential biomarker of Parkinson's disease: quartz tuning fork-based mass sensitive immunosensor design. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:5106-5114. [PMID: 38259152 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04527g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
An innovative biosensing fabrication strategy has been demonstrated for the first time using a quartz tuning fork (QTF) to develop a practical immunosensor for sensitive, selective and practical analysis of alpha synuclein protein (SYN alpha), a potential biomarker of Parkinson's disease. Functionalization of gold-coated QTFs was carried out in 2 steps by forming a self-assembled monolayer with 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) and conjugation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The selective determination range for SYN alpha of the developed biosensor system is 1-500 ng mL-1 in accordance with the resonance frequency shifts associated with a limit of detection of 0.098 ng mL-1. The changes in surface morphology and elemental composition were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The remarkable point of the study is that this QTF based mass sensitive biosensor system can capture the SYN alpha target protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with recoveries ranging from 92% to 104%.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fikret Arı
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Kemal Sezgintürk
- Faculty of Engineering, Bioengineering Department, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey.
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17
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Soni R, Mathur K, Shah J. An update on new-age potential biomarkers for Parkinson's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 94:102208. [PMID: 38296162 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that deals with dopaminergic deficiency in Substantia nigra pars compact (SNpc) region of the brain. Dopaminergic deficiency manifests into motor dysfunction. Alpha-synuclein protein aggregation is the source for inception of the pathology. Motor symptoms include rigidity, akinesia, tremor and gait dysfunction. Pre-motor symptoms are also seen in early stage of the disease; however, they are not distinguishable. Lack of early diagnosis in PD pathology poses a major challenge for development of disease modifying therapeutics. Substantial neuronal loss has already been occurred before the clinical manifestations appear and hence, it becomes impossible to halt the disease progression. Current diagnostics are majorly based on the clinical symptoms and thus fail to detect early progression of the disease. Thus, there is need for early diagnosis of PD, for detection of the disease at its inception. This will facilitate the effective use of therapies that halt the progression and will make remission possible. Many novel biomarkers are being developed that include blood-based biomarker, CSF biomarker. Other than that, there are non-invasive techniques that can detect biomarkers. We aim to discuss potential role of these new age biomarkers and their association with PD pathogenesis in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Soni
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Kirti Mathur
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Jigna Shah
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India.
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18
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Nordengen K, Morland C. From Synaptic Physiology to Synaptic Pathology: The Enigma of α-Synuclein. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:986. [PMID: 38256059 PMCID: PMC10815905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) has gained significant attention due to its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. However, its normal function in the human brain is equally fascinating. The α-syn protein is highly dynamic and can adapt to various conformational stages, which differ in their interaction with synaptic elements, their propensity to drive pathological aggregation, and their toxicity. This review will delve into the multifaceted role of α-syn in different types of synapses, shedding light on contributions to neurotransmission and overall brain function. We describe the physiological role of α-syn at central synapses, including the bidirectional interaction between α-syn and neurotransmitter systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Nordengen
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
| | - Cecilie Morland
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, 1068 Oslo, Norway
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19
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Pena E, San Martin-Salamanca R, El Alam S, Flores K, Arriaza K. Tau Protein Alterations Induced by Hypobaric Hypoxia Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:889. [PMID: 38255962 PMCID: PMC10815386 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases whose central feature is dysfunction of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT). Although the exact etiology of tauopathies is still unknown, it has been hypothesized that their onset may occur up to twenty years before the clear emergence of symptoms, which has led to questions about whether the prognosis of these diseases can be improved by, for instance, targeting the factors that influence tauopathy development. One such factor is hypoxia, which is strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease because of its association with obstructive sleep apnea and has been reported to affect molecular pathways related to the dysfunction and aggregation of tau proteins and other biomarkers of neurological damage. In particular, hypobaric hypoxia exposure increases the activation of several kinases related to the hyperphosphorylation of tau in neuronal cells, such as ERK, GSK3β, and CDK5. In addition, hypoxia also increases the levels of inflammatory molecules (IL-β1, IL-6, and TNF-α), which are also associated with neurodegeneration. This review discusses the many remaining questions regarding the influence of hypoxia on tauopathies and the contribution of high-altitude exposure to the development of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samia El Alam
- High Altitude Medicine Research Center (CEIMA), Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1110939, Chile; (E.P.); (R.S.M.-S.); (K.F.); (K.A.)
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20
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Miller SA, Jeanne Dit Fouque K, Hard ER, Balana AT, Kaplan D, Voinov VG, Ridgeway ME, Park MA, Anderson GA, Pratt MR, Fernandez-Lima F. Top/Middle-Down Characterization of α-Synuclein Glycoforms. Anal Chem 2023; 95:18039-18045. [PMID: 38047498 PMCID: PMC10836061 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Proteomics studies of human brain samples have associated the modification of the O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to several synucleinopathies; in particular, the position of the O-GlcNAc can regulate protein aggregation and subsequent cell toxicity. There is a need for site specific O-GlcNAc α-synuclein screening tools to direct better therapeutic strategies. In the present work, for the first time, the potential of fast, high-resolution trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) preseparation in tandem with mass spectrometry assisted by an electromagnetostatic (EMS) cell, capable of electron capture dissociation (ECD), and ultraviolet photodissociation (213 nm UVPD) is illustrated for the characterization of α-synuclein positional glycoforms: T72, T75, T81, and S87 modified with a single O-GlcNAc. Top-down 213 nm UVPD and ECD MS/MS experiments of the intact proteoforms showed specific product ions for each α-synuclein glycoforms associated with the O-GlcNAc position with a sequence coverage of ∼68 and ∼82%, respectively. TIMS-MS profiles of α-synuclein and the four glycoforms exhibited large structural heterogeneity and signature patterns across the 8+-15+ charge state distribution; however, while the α-synuclein positional glycoforms showed signature mobility profiles, they were only partially separated in the mobility domain. Moreover, a middle-down approach based on the Val40-Phe94 (55 residues) chymotrypsin proteolytic product using tandem TIMS-q-ECD-TOF MS/MS permitted the separation of the parent positional isomeric glycoforms. The ECD fragmentation of the ion mobility and m/z separated isomeric Val40-Phe94 proteolytic peptides with single O-GlcNAc in the T72, T75, T81, and S87 positions provided the O-GlcNAc confirmation and positional assignment with a sequence coverage of ∼80%. This method enables the high-throughput screening of positional glycoforms and further enhances the structural mass spectrometry toolbox with fast, high-resolution mobility separations and 213 nm UVPD and ECD fragmentation capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Miller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Kevin Jeanne Dit Fouque
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Eldon R Hard
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, United States
| | - Aaron T Balana
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, United States
| | - Desmond Kaplan
- KapScience LLC, Tewksbury, Massachusetts 01876, United States
| | | | - Mark E Ridgeway
- Bruker Daltonics Inc., Billerica, Massachusetts 01821, United States
| | - Melvin A Park
- Bruker Daltonics Inc., Billerica, Massachusetts 01821, United States
| | | | - Matthew R Pratt
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, United States
| | - Francisco Fernandez-Lima
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
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21
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Ramírez de Mingo D, López-García P, Vaquero ME, Hervás R, Laurents DV, Carrión-Vázquez M. Phase separation modulates the functional amyloid assembly of human CPEB3. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 231:102540. [PMID: 37898314 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
How functional amyloids are regulated to restrict their activity is poorly understood. The cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (CPEB3) is an RNA-binding protein that adopts an amyloid state key for memory persistence. Its monomer represses the translation of synaptic target mRNAs while phase separated, whereas its aggregated state acts as a translational activator. Here, we have explored the sequence-driven molecular determinants behind the functional aggregation of human CPEB3 (hCPEB3). We found that the intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of hCPEB3 encodes both an amyloidogenic and a phase separation domain, separated by a poly-A-rich region. The hCPEB3 amyloid core is composed by a hydrophobic region instead of the Q-rich stretch found in the Drosophila orthologue. The hCPEB3 phase separation domain relies on hydrophobic interactions with ionic strength dependence, and its droplet ageing process leads to a liquid-to-solid transition with the formation of a non-fibril-based hydrogel surrounded by starburst droplets. Furthermore, we demonstrate the differential behavior of the protein depending on its environment. Under physiological-like conditions, hCPEB3 can establish additional electrostatic interactions with ions, increasing the stability of its liquid droplets and driving a condensation-based amyloid pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula López-García
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Avenida Doctor Arce 37, Madrid 28002, Spain; PhD Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Cajal Institute, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | | | - Rubén Hervás
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Douglas V Laurents
- Instituto de Química Física "Blas Cabrera", CSIC, C/ Serrano 119, Madrid 28006, Spain
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22
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Ramirez J, Pancoe SX, Rhoades E, Petersson EJ. The Effects of Lipids on α-Synuclein Aggregation In Vitro. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1476. [PMID: 37892158 PMCID: PMC10604467 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The small neuronal protein α-synuclein (αS) is found in pre-synaptic terminals and plays a role in vesicle recycling and neurotransmission. Fibrillar aggregates of αS are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. In both health and disease, interactions with lipids influence αS's structure and function, prompting much study of the effects of lipids on αS aggregation. A comprehensive collection (126 examples) of aggregation rate data for various αS/lipid combinations was presented, including combinations of lipid variations and mutations or post-translational modifications of αS. These data were interpreted in terms of lipid structure to identify general trends. These tabulated data serve as a resource for the community to help in the interpretation of aggregation experiments with lipids and to be potentially used as inputs for computational models of lipid effects on aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ramirez
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Samantha X. Pancoe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rhoades
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - E. James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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23
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Lomeli-Lepe AK, Castañeda-Cabral JL, López-Pérez SJ. Synucleinopathies: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors. Cell Biochem Biophys 2023; 81:427-442. [PMID: 37526884 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01154-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
α-Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by alterations in α-synuclein (α-syn), a protein associated with membrane phospholipids, whose precise function in normal cells is still unknown. These kinds of diseases are caused by multiple factors, but the regulation of the α-syn gene is believed to play a central role in the pathology of these disorders; therefore, the α-syn gene is one of the most studied genes. α-Synucleinopathies are complex disorders that derive from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Here, we offer an update on the landscape of the epigenetic regulation of α-syn gene expression that has been linked with α-synucleinopathies. We also delve into the reciprocal influence between epigenetic modifications and other factors related to these disorders, such as posttranslational modifications, microbiota participation, interactions with lipids, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, to promote α-syn aggregation by acting on the transcription and/or translation of the α-syn gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma Karen Lomeli-Lepe
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, JAL, México
| | - Jose Luis Castañeda-Cabral
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, JAL, México
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Rimti FH, Shahbaz R, Bhatt K, Xiang A. A review of new insights into existing major depressive disorder biomarkers. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18909. [PMID: 37664743 PMCID: PMC10469054 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As major depressive disorder (MDD) is such a diverse condition, there are currently no clear ways for determining its severity, endophenotype, or therapy response. The distinctive nature of depression, the variability of analysis in literature and the large number of conceptually complicated biomarkers are some of the many reasons for the lack of progress. Markers are involved in the process of neurotrophic, metabolic, and inflammation as well as neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter systems' components. Some clinical indicators are strong enough so that can be measured using assessments of proteomic, genetic, metabolomics, neuroimaging, epigenetic and transcriptomic. Markers of oxidative stress, endocrine, inflammatory, proteomic, and growth indicators are currently among the promising biologic systems/markers identified in this analysis. This narrative review examines succinct studies which investigated cytokines of inflammatory factors, peripheral factors of development, metabolic and endocrine markers as pathophysiological biomarkers of MDD, and treatment responses. Endocrine and metabolic alterations have also been linked to MDD in various studies. So, this study summarizes all of the numerous biomarkers that are significant in the detection or treatment of MDD patients. The paper also provides an overview of various biomarkers which are important for the regulation and its effects on MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kunj Bhatt
- McMaster University, Ontario, 00000, Canada
| | - Alex Xiang
- McMaster University, Ontario, 00000, Canada
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Sang P, Cai J. Unnatural helical peptidic foldamers as protein segment mimics. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:4843-4877. [PMID: 37401344 PMCID: PMC10389297 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00395c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Unnatural helical peptidic foldamers have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique folding behaviours, diverse artificial protein binding mechanisms, and promising applications in chemical, biological, medical, and material fields. Unlike the conventional α-helix consisting of molecular entities of native α-amino acids, unnatural helical peptidic foldamers are generally comprised of well-defined backbone conformers with unique and unnatural structural parameters. Their folded structures usually arise from unnatural amino acids such as N-substituted glycine, N-substituted-β-alanine, β-amino acid, urea, thiourea, α-aminoxy acid, α-aminoisobutyric acid, aza-amino acid, aromatic amide, γ-amino acid, as well as sulfono-γ-AA amino acid. They can exhibit intriguing and predictable three-dimensional helical structures, generally featuring superior resistance to proteolytic degradation, enhanced bioavailability, and improved chemodiversity, and are promising in mimicking helical segments of various proteins. Although it is impossible to include every piece of research work, we attempt to highlight the research progress in the past 10 years in exploring unnatural peptidic foldamers as protein helical segment mimics, by giving some representative examples and discussing the current challenges and future perspectives. We expect that this review will help elucidate the principles of structural design and applications of existing unnatural helical peptidic foldamers in protein segment mimicry, thereby attracting more researchers to explore and generate novel unnatural peptidic foldamers with unique structural and functional properties, leading to more unprecedented and practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Sang
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
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Salaramoli S, Joshaghani HR, Hashemy SI. Salivary Biomarkers: Noninvasive Ways for Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. Neurol Res Int 2023; 2023:3555418. [PMID: 37434876 PMCID: PMC10332915 DOI: 10.1155/2023/3555418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Finding reliable biomarkers has a crucial role in Parkinson's disease (PD) assessments. Saliva is a bodily fluid, which might be used as a source of biomarkers for PD. Our article has reviewed several publications on salivary proteins in PD patients and their potential as biomarkers. We find out that α-Syn's proportion in oligomeric form is higher in PD patients' saliva, which is potent to use as a biomarker for PD. The salivary concentration of DJ-1 and alpha-amylase is lower in PD patients. Also, substance P level is more moderate in PD patients. Although salivary flow rate is decreased in PD patients, high levels of heme oxygenase and acetylcholinesterase might be used as noninvasive biomarkers. Salivary miRNAs (miR-153, miR-223, miR-874, and miR-145-3p) are novel diagnostic biomarkers that should be given more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Salaramoli
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Joshaghani
- Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Seyed Isaac Hashemy
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Uceda AB, Frau J, Vilanova B, Adrover M. Tyrosine Nitroxidation Does Not Affect the Ability of α-Synuclein to Bind Anionic Micelles, but It Diminishes Its Ability to Bind and Assemble Synaptic-like Vesicles. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1310. [PMID: 37372040 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by dopaminergic neuron degeneration and the accumulation of neuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies, which are formed by aggregated and post-translationally modified α-synuclein (αS). Oxidative modifications such as the formation of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) or di-tyrosine are found in αS deposits, and they could be promoted by the oxidative stress typical of PD brains. Many studies have tried to elucidate the molecular mechanism correlating nitroxidation, αS aggregation, and PD. However, it is unclear how nitroxidation affects the physiological function of αS. To clarify this matter, we synthetized an αS with its Tyr residues replaced by 3-NT. Its study revealed that Tyr nitroxidation had no effect on either the affinity of αS towards anionic micelles nor the overall structure of the micelle-bound αS, which retained its α-helical folding. Nevertheless, we observed that nitroxidation of Y39 lengthened the disordered stretch bridging the two consecutive α-helices. Conversely, the affinity of αS towards synaptic-like vesicles diminished as a result of Tyr nitroxidation. Additionally, we also proved that nitroxidation precluded αS from performing its physiological function as a catalyst of the clustering and the fusion of synaptic vesicles. Our findings represent a step forward towards the completion of the puzzle that must explain the molecular mechanism behind the link between αS-nitroxidation and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Belén Uceda
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), E-07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Juan Frau
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), E-07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Bartolomé Vilanova
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), E-07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Miquel Adrover
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), E-07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Pandit E, Das L, Das AK, Dolui S, Saha S, Pal U, Mondal A, Chowdhury J, Biswas SC, Maiti NC. Single point mutations at the S129 residue of α-synuclein and their effect on structure, aggregation, and neurotoxicity. Front Chem 2023; 11:1145877. [PMID: 37304685 PMCID: PMC10250651 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1145877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is an age-related neurological disorder, and the pathology of the disease is linked to different types of aggregates of α-synuclein or alpha-synuclein (aS), which is an intrinsically disordered protein. The C-terminal domain (residues 96-140) of the protein is highly fluctuating and possesses random/disordered coil conformation. Thus, the region plays a significant role in the protein's solubility and stability by an interaction with other parts of the protein. In the current investigation, we examined the structure and aggregation behavior of two artificial single point mutations at a C-terminal residue at position 129 that represent a serine residue in the wild-type human aS (wt aS). Circular Dichroism (CD) and Raman spectroscopy were performed to analyse the secondary structure of the mutated proteins and compare it to the wt aS. Thioflavin T assay and atomic force microscopy imaging helped in understanding the aggregation kinetics and type of aggregates formed. Finally, the cytotoxicity assay gave an idea about the toxicity of the aggregates formed at different stages of incubation due to mutations. Compared to wt aS, the mutants S129A and S129W imparted structural stability and showed enhanced propensity toward the α-helical secondary structure. CD analysis showed proclivity of the mutant proteins toward α-helical conformation. The enhancement of α-helical propensity lengthened the lag phase of fibril formation. The growth rate of β-sheet-rich fibrillation was also reduced. Cytotoxicity tests on SH-SY5Y neuronal cell lines established that the S129A and S129W mutants and their aggregates were potentially less toxic than wt aS. The average survivability rate was ∼40% for cells treated with oligomers (presumably formed after 24 h of incubation of the freshly prepared monomeric protein solution) produced from wt aS and ∼80% for cells treated with oligomers obtained from mutant proteins. The relative structural stability with α-helical propensity of the mutants could be a plausible reason for their slow rate of oligomerization and fibrillation, and this was also the possible reason for reduced toxicity to neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esha Pandit
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Lopamudra Das
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Anoy Kumar Das
- Cell Biology and Physiology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Sandip Dolui
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Saumen Saha
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Uttam Pal
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Animesh Mondal
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Subhas C. Biswas
- Cell Biology and Physiology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Nakul C. Maiti
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Kolkata, India
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Fedorova TD, Knudsen K, Horsager J, Hansen AK, Okkels N, Gottrup H, Vang K, Borghammer P. Dopaminergic Dysfunction Is More Symmetric in Dementia with Lewy Bodies Compared to Parkinson's Disease. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2023:JPD230001. [PMID: 37212074 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-230001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The α-syn Origin site and Connectome model (SOC) proposes that α-synucleinopathies can be divided into two categories: the asymmetrical brain-first, and more symmetrical body-first Lewy body disease. We have hypothesized that most patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) belong to the body-first subtype, whereas patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) more often belong to the brain-first subtype. OBJECTIVE To compare asymmetry of striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in DLB and PD patients using [18F]-FE-PE2I positron emission tomography (PET). METHODS We analyzed [18F]-FE-PE2I PET data from 29 DLB patients and 76 PD patients who were identified retrospectively during a 5-year period at Dept. of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital. Additionally, imaging data from 34 healthy controls was used for age-correction and visual comparison. RESULTS PD patients showed significantly more asymmetry in specific binding ratios between the most and least affected putamen (p < 0.0001) and caudate (p = 0.003) compared to DLB patients. PD patients also had more severe degeneration in the putamen compared to the caudate in comparison to DLB patients (p < 0.0001) who had a more universal pattern of striatal degeneration. CONCLUSION Patients with DLB show significantly more symmetric striatal degeneration on average compared to PD patients. These results support the hypothesis that DLB patients may be more likely to conform to the body-first subtype characterized by a symmetrical spread of pathology, whereas PD patients may be more likely to conform to the brain-first subtype with more lateralized initial propagation of pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Dmitrievna Fedorova
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark, Denmark
| | - Karoline Knudsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Jacob Horsager
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Allan K Hansen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Niels Okkels
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark, Denmark
- Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Hanne Gottrup
- Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Kim Vang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Per Borghammer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark, Denmark
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De Figueiredo I, Bartenlian B, Van der Rest G, Pallandre A, Halgand F. Proteomics Methodologies: The Search of Protein Biomarkers Using Microfluidic Systems Coupled to Mass Spectrometry. Proteomes 2023; 11:proteomes11020019. [PMID: 37218924 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes11020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein biomarkers have been the subject of intensive studies as a target for disease diagnostics and monitoring. Indeed, biomarkers have been extensively used for personalized medicine. In biological samples, these biomarkers are most often present in low concentrations masked by a biologically complex proteome (e.g., blood) making their detection difficult. This complexity is further increased by the needs to detect proteoforms and proteome complexity such as the dynamic range of compound concentrations. The development of techniques that simultaneously pre-concentrate and identify low-abundance biomarkers in these proteomes constitutes an avant-garde approach to the early detection of pathologies. Chromatographic-based methods are widely used for protein separation, but these methods are not adapted for biomarker discovery, as they require complex sample handling due to the low biomarker concentration. Therefore, microfluidics devices have emerged as a technology to overcome these shortcomings. In terms of detection, mass spectrometry (MS) is the standard analytical tool given its high sensitivity and specificity. However, for MS, the biomarker must be introduced as pure as possible in order to avoid chemical noise and improve sensitivity. As a result, microfluidics coupled with MS has become increasingly popular in the field of biomarker discovery. This review will show the different approaches to protein enrichment using miniaturized devices and the importance of their coupling with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel De Figueiredo
- Institut de Chimie Physique, Université Paris Saclay, Avenue Jean Perrin, F91400 Orsay, France
| | - Bernard Bartenlian
- Centre des Nanosciences et Nanotechnologies, Université Paris Saclay, 10 Boulevard Thomas Gobert, F91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Guillaume Van der Rest
- Institut de Chimie Physique, Université Paris Saclay, Avenue Jean Perrin, F91400 Orsay, France
| | - Antoine Pallandre
- Institut de Chimie Physique, Université Paris Saclay, Avenue Jean Perrin, F91400 Orsay, France
| | - Frédéric Halgand
- Institut de Chimie Physique, Université Paris Saclay, Avenue Jean Perrin, F91400 Orsay, France
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Joshi N, Sarhadi TR, Raveendran A, Nagotu S. Sporadic SNCA mutations A18T and A29S exhibit variable effects on protein aggregation, cell viability and oxidative stress. Mol Biol Rep 2023:10.1007/s11033-023-08457-7. [PMID: 37155014 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08457-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND α-synuclein aggregation is the hallmark feature of Parkinson's disease. Both familial and sporadic forms of the disease exhibit this feature. Several mutations have been identified in patients and are associated with the disease pathology. METHODS AND RESULTS We have used site-directed mutagenesis to generate α-synuclein mutant variants tagged with GFP. Fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, western blotting, cell viability and oxidative stress analysis were performed to investigate the effect of two less studied α-synuclein variants. In this study we characterized two less studied α-synuclein mutations, A18T and A29S, in the well-established yeast model. Our data shows variable expression, distribution and toxicity of the protein in the mutant variants A18T, A29S, A53T and WT. The cells expressing the double mutant variant A18T/A53T showed the most increase in the aggregation phenotype and also depicted reduced viability suggesting a more substantial effect of this variant. CONCLUSION The outcome of our study highlights the variable localization, aggregation phenotype and toxicity of the studied α-synuclein variants. This underscores the importance of in-depth analysis of every disease-associated mutation which may result in variable cellular phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Joshi
- Organelle Biology and Cellular Ageing Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Tanveera Rounaque Sarhadi
- Organelle Biology and Cellular Ageing Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Atchaya Raveendran
- Organelle Biology and Cellular Ageing Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Shirisha Nagotu
- Organelle Biology and Cellular Ageing Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India.
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Moore K, Sengupta U, Puangmalai N, Bhatt N, Kayed R. Polymorphic Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers: Characterization and Differential Detection with Novel Corresponding Antibodies. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2691-2705. [PMID: 36707462 PMCID: PMC9883140 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03211-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of characteristic proteinaceous aggregates. Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies can be characterized as synucleinopathies due to the abnormal accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein (α-Syn). Studies have shown amyloidogenic proteins such as α-Syn and tau can exist as polymorphic aggregates, a theory widely studied mostly in their fibrillar morphology. It is now well understood that an intermediate state of aggregates, oligomers, are the most toxic species. We have shown α-Syn, when modified by different physiological inducers, result in distinct oligomeric conformations of α-Syn. Polymorphic α-Syn oligomers exhibit distinct properties such as aggregate size, conformation, and differentially interact with tau. In this study, we confirm α-Syn oligomeric polymorphs furthermore using in-house novel α-Syn toxic conformation monoclonal antibodies (SynTCs). It is unclear the biological relevance of α-Syn oligomeric polymorphisms. Utilizing a combination of biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based assays, we characterize α-Syn oligomeric polymorphs. We found α-Syn oligomeric polymorphs exhibit distinct immunoreactivity and SynTCs exhibit differential selectivity and binding affinity for α-Syn species. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments suggest distinct α-Syn:SynTC binding enthalpies in a species-specific manner. Additionally, we found SynTCs differentially reduce α-Syn oligomeric polymorph-mediated neurotoxicity and propagation in primary cortical neurons in a polymorph-specific manner. These studies demonstrate the biological significance of polymorphic α-Syn oligomers along with the importance of polymorph-specific antibodies that target toxic α-Syn aggregates. Monoclonal antibodies that can target the conformational heterogeneity of α-Syn oligomeric species and reduce their mediated toxicity have promising immunotherapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenya Moore
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Nicha Puangmalai
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA.
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Wang M, Ye H, Jiang P, Liu J, Wang B, Zhang S, Sik A, Li N, Liu K, Jin M. The alleviative effect of Calendula officinalis L. extract against Parkinson's disease-like pathology in zebrafish via the involvement of autophagy activation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1153889. [PMID: 37179558 PMCID: PMC10169688 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1153889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. However, effective preventative or therapeutic agents for PD remain largely limited. Marigold Calendula officinalis L. (CoL) has been reported to possess a wide range of biological activities, but its neuroprotective activity including anti-neurodegenerative diseases is unclear. Here, we aim to investigate whether the extract of CoL (ECoL) has therapeutic activity on PD. Methods We identified the chemical composition of flavonoid, an important active ingredient in ECoL, by a targeted HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. Subsequently, we evaluated the anti-PD effect of ECoL by using zebrafish PD model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). After ECoL+MPTP co-treatments, the changes of dopaminergic neurons, neural vasculature, nervous system, and locomotor activity were examined, respectively. The expressions of genes related to neurodevelopment and autophagy were detected by RT-qPCR. Further, the interaction between autophagy regulators and ECoL flavonoids was predicted using molecular docking method. Results As a result, 5 kinds of flavonoid were identified in ECoL, consisting of 121 flavones and flavonols, 32 flavanones, 22 isoflavonoids, 11 chalcones and dihydrochalcones, and 17 anthocyanins. ECoL significantly ameliorated the loss of dopaminergic neurons and neural vasculature, restored the injury of nervous system, and remarkably reversed the abnormal expressions of neurodevelopment-related genes. Besides, ECoL notably inhibited the locomotor impairment in MPTP-induced PD-like zebrafish. The underlying anti-PD effect of ECoL may be implicated in activating autophagy, as ECoL significantly upregulated the expressions of genes related to autophagy, which contributes to the degradation of α-synuclein aggregation and dysfunctional mitochondria. Molecular docking simulation showed the stable interaction between autophagy regulators (Pink, Ulk2, Atg7, and Lc3b) and 10 main compounds of flavonoid in ECoL, further affirming the involvement of autophagy activation by ECoL in anti-PD action. Conclusion Our results suggested that ECoL has the anti-PD effect, and ECoL might be a promising therapeutic candidate for PD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfei Wang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Haicheng Ye
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Ping Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Qingdao Eighth People’s Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Jibin Liu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Baokun Wang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Attila Sik
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ning Li
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Kechun Liu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Meng Jin
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
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Jadavi S, Dante S, Civiero L, Sandre M, Bubacco L, Tosatto L, Bianchini P, Canale C, Diaspro A. Fluorescence labeling methods influence the aggregation process of α-syn in vitro differently. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:8270-8277. [PMID: 37073868 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr05487f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In a previous study, the coexistence of different aggregation pathways of insulin and β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides was demonstrated by correlative stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This had been explained by suboptimal proteins labeling strategies that generate heterogeneous populations of aggregating species. However, because of the limited number of proteins considered, the failure of the fluorescent labeling that occurs in a large portion of the aggregating fibrils observed for insulin and Aβ peptides, could not be considered a general phenomenon valid for all molecular systems. Here, we investigated the aggregation process of α-synuclein (α-syn), an amyloidogenic peptide involved in Parkinson's disease, which is significantly larger (MW ∼14 kDa) than insulin and Aβ, previously investigated. The results showed that an unspecific labeling procedure, such as that previously adopted for shorter proteins, reproduced the coexistence of labeled/unlabeled fibers. Therefore, a site-specific labeling method was developed to target a domain of the peptide scarcely involved in the aggregation process. Correlative STED-AFM illustrated that all fibrillar aggregates derived from the aggregation of α-syn at the dye-to-protein ratio of 1 : 22 were fluorescent. These results, demonstrated here for the specific case of α-syn, highlight that the labeling artifacts can be avoided by careful designing the labeling strategy for the molecular system under investigation. The use of a label-free correlative microscopy technique would play a crucial role in the control of the setting of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jadavi
- Nanoscopy, CHT Erzelli, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen 83, Building B, 16152 Genova, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy.
| | - S Dante
- Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - L Civiero
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Via Alberoni 70, 30126 Venice, Italy
- Centro Studi per la Neurodegenerazione (CESNE), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - M Sandre
- Centro Studi per la Neurodegenerazione (CESNE), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via Nicolò Giustiniani, 5, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - L Bubacco
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Via Alberoni 70, 30126 Venice, Italy
- Centro Studi per la Neurodegenerazione (CESNE), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - L Tosatto
- Istituti di Biofisica, CNR, Trento, Italy
| | - P Bianchini
- Nanoscopy, CHT Erzelli, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen 83, Building B, 16152 Genova, Italy
| | - C Canale
- Department of Physics, University of Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy.
| | - A Diaspro
- Nanoscopy, CHT Erzelli, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Enrico Melen 83, Building B, 16152 Genova, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy.
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de Bruyn E, Dorn AE, Zimmermann O, Rossetti G. SPEADI: Accelerated Analysis of IDP-Ion Interactions from MD-Trajectories. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:581. [PMID: 37106781 PMCID: PMC10135740 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The disordered nature of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) makes their structural ensembles particularly susceptible to changes in chemical environmental conditions, often leading to an alteration of their normal functions. A Radial Distribution Function (RDF) is considered a standard method for characterizing the chemical environment surrounding particles during atomistic simulations, commonly averaged over an entire or part of a trajectory. Given their high structural variability, such averaged information might not be reliable for IDPs. We introduce the Time-Resolved Radial Distribution Function (TRRDF), implemented in our open-source Python package SPEADI, which is able to characterize dynamic environments around IDPs. We use SPEADI to characterize the dynamic distribution of ions around the IDPs Alpha-Synuclein (AS) and Humanin (HN) from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, and some of their selected mutants, showing that local ion-residue interactions play an important role in the structures and behaviors of IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile de Bruyn
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anton Emil Dorn
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Olav Zimmermann
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Advanced Simulation IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
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Ibarra-Gutiérrez MT, Serrano-García N, Orozco-Ibarra M. Rotenone-Induced Model of Parkinson's Disease: Beyond Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibition. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1929-1948. [PMID: 36593435 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03193-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is usually diagnosed through motor symptoms that make the patient incapable of carrying out daily activities; however, numerous non-motor symptoms include olfactory disturbances, constipation, depression, excessive daytime sleepiness, and rapid eye movement at sleep; they begin years before motor symptoms. Therefore, several experimental models have been studied to reproduce several PD functional and neurochemical characteristics; however, no model mimics all the PD motor and non-motor symptoms to date, which becomes a limitation for PD study. It has become increasingly relevant to find ways to study the disease from its slowly progressive nature. The experimental models most frequently used to reproduce PD are based on administering toxic chemical compounds, which aim to imitate dopamine deficiency. The most used toxic compounds to model PD have been 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which inhibit the complex I of the electron transport chain but have some limitations. Another toxic compound that has drawn attention recently is rotenone, the classical inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I. Rotenone triggers the progressive death of dopaminergic neurons and α-synuclein inclusions formation in rats; also, rotenone induces microtubule destabilization. This review presents information about the experimental model of PD induced by rotenone, emphasizing its molecular characteristics beyond the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Ibarra-Gutiérrez
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877 Col. La Fama, Tlalpan, C.P. 14269, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Norma Serrano-García
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877 Col. La Fama, Tlalpan, C.P. 14269, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Marisol Orozco-Ibarra
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877 Col. La Fama, Tlalpan, C.P. 14269, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
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Yang Q, Lin X, Xiao J, Zhong W, Wang F, Tan H, Rao B, Qu J, Zhang J. Expression of α‐Synuclein in the mouse retina is confined to inhibitory presynaptic elements. J Comp Neurol 2023; 531:1057-1079. [PMID: 37002599 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is enriched in presynaptic terminals of the central nervous system including the retina and plays a role in the synaptic vesicle cycle and synaptic transmission. Abnormal aggregation of α-Syn is considered to be the main component of the Lewy bodies that are the pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. Although expression pattern of α-Syn has been described in the retinas, its precise cellular and subcellular locations are poorly understood. We investigated the precise expression of α-Syn using light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) with antibodies against α-Syn in the mouse retina. We found that the majority of α-Syn immunoreactivity (IR) is located in GABAergic, glycinergic, and dopaminergic amacrine cells, and their processes often make a direct synapse to other labeled or unlabeled amacrine profiles, bipolar cell terminals, or ganglion cell dendrites. Further, our LM and immuno-EM results confirm the absence of α-Syn in excitatory photoreceptors, bipolar cell bodies, and their ribbon synapses, providing evidence, for the first time, that ribbon synapses do not express α-Syn. Additionally, α-Syn IR is located in the ganglion cells, some of which are intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. These results reveal a previously unappreciated inhibitory synapse-specific expression pattern of α-Syn in the retina, suggesting that α-Syn may play a distinct role in the modulation and integration of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingwen Yang
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Xin Lin
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Jiayi Xiao
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Wenhui Zhong
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Fenglan Wang
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Hang Tan
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Bilin Rao
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Jia Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
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Rathore AS, Singh SS, Birla H, Zahra W, Keshri PK, Dilnashin H, Singh R, Singh S, Singh SP. Curcumin Modulates p62-Keap1-Nrf2-Mediated Autophagy in Rotenone-Induced Parkinson's Disease Mouse Models. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 36989171 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy mediates self-digestion of abnormally aggregated proteins and organelles present in the cytoplasm. This mechanism may prove to be neuroprotective against Parkinson's disease (PD) by clearing misfolded α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates from dopaminergic neurons. p62, an adaptor protein acts as a selective substrate for autophagy and regulates the formation as well as the degradation of protein aggregates. p62 sequesters keap1 freeing Nrf2 and consequently activating the transcription of its target genes. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the anti-parkinsonian activity of curcumin targeting primarily activation of autophagy via the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway. The mice were subcutaneously injected with rotenone (2.5 mg/kg bodyweight) and co-treated with oral administration of curcumin (80 mg/kg bodyweight) for 35 days. Following completion of dosing, motor activities, anti-oxidative potential, mitochondrial dysfunction, and various protein expressions, including Nrf2, Keap1, p62, LC3, Bcl2, Bax, and caspase 3, were assessed. The results revealed that curcumin restored the motor coordination and anti-oxidative activity while improving the mitochondrial functioning in PD mice. Autophagy was evaluated by the change in the expression of autophagic markers, p62 and LC3-II. Reduced p62 and LC3-II expressions in the rotenone mouse model of PD confirmed the compromised autophagy pathway, consequently increasing the aggregation of misfolded protein α-syn. Whereas, curcumin treatment-enhanced autophagy-mediated clearance of misfolded α-syn proteins by increasing the LC3-II expression and blocked apoptotic cascade. Curcumin administration upregulated the Nrf2 expression and normalized the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, which justifies the improved anti-oxidative activity. Therefore, the findings reveal that curcumin is a Nrf2-inducer and is endowed with neuroprotective potential, which may prove to be a potential candidate for the anti-Parkinson's disease treatment therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaina Singh Rathore
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Saumitra Sen Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Hareram Birla
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Walia Zahra
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Priyanka Kumari Keshri
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Hagera Dilnashin
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Richa Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shekhar Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Surya Pratap Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Lü MH, Wang ZP, Xing LZ, Zhang W, Han F, Huang GL, Liu W, Zhang YX, Xu J, Cui J. Hybrids of polyphenolic/quinone acids, the potential preventive and therapeutic drugs for PD: Disaggregate α-Syn fibrils, inhibit inclusions, and repair damaged neurons in mice. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 249:115122. [PMID: 36680987 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Neurotoxic α-Syn fibers, the main components of Lewy bodies, play a key role in the development of PD characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons. Here, we designed and synthesized the hybrids of polyphenolic/quinone acids. The candidate compounds showed high α-Syn aggregation inhibitory activities in vitro with IC50 down to 1.6 μM. The inhibition went through the aggregation process by stabilizing the conformation of α-Syn proteostasis and preventing β-sheets aggregation, especially in the lag phase. Furthermore, the candidate drugs could disintegrate the preformed varisized aggregates into pony-size aggregates and functional monomers and continually inhibit the re-aggregation. The activities of anti-aggregation and aggregates depolymerization result in the reduction of inclusions in neuron cells. The candidate drugs also show high anti-oxidation and low cytotoxicity. They finally repair the damaged neurons in 6-OHDA-lesioned C57 mice and significantly improve PD-like symptoms of the PD model mice. The hybrids are promising molecules for PD prevention and therapy.© 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Huan Lü
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450014, China
| | - Zhen-Ping Wang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Li-Zi Xing
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Feng Han
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Guo-Long Huang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yun-Xiao Zhang
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Ji Xu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience Research Institute, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Road 100, Zhengzhou, 45000, China.
| | - Jinquan Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450014, China.
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40
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Maity D. Inhibition of Amyloid Protein Aggregation Using Selected Peptidomimetics. ChemMedChem 2023; 18:e202200499. [PMID: 36317359 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant protein aggregation leads to the formation of amyloid fibrils. This phenomenon is linked to the development of more than 40 irremediable diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Plenty of research efforts have been given to understanding the underlying mechanism of protein aggregation, associated toxicity, and the development of amyloid inhibitors. Recently, the peptidomimetic approach has emerged as a potential tool to modulate several protein-protein interactions (PPIs). In this review, we discussed selected peptidomimetic-based approaches for the modulation of important amyloid proteins (Islet Amyloid Polypeptide, Amyloid Beta, α-synuclein, mutant p53, and insulin) aggregation. This approach holds a powerful platform for creating an essential stepping stone for the vital development of anti-amyloid therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debabrata Maity
- Department of Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, 500007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
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41
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Liquid-liquid Phase Separation of α-Synuclein: A New Mechanistic Insight for α-Synuclein Aggregation Associated with Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167713. [PMID: 35787838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant aggregation of the misfolded presynaptic protein, α-Synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy body (LB) and Lewy neuritis (LN) is a major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. Numerous studies have suggested that prefibrillar and fibrillar species of the misfolded α-Syn aggregates are responsible for cell death in PD pathogenesis. However, the precise molecular events during α-Syn aggregation, especially in the early stages, remain elusive. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of α-Syn occurs in the nucleation step of α-Syn aggregation, which offers an alternate non-canonical aggregation pathway in the crowded microenvironment. The liquid-like α-Syn droplets gradually undergo an irreversible liquid-to-solid phase transition into amyloid-like hydrogel entrapping oligomers and fibrils. This new mechanism of α-Syn LLPS and gel formation might represent the molecular basis of cellular toxicity associated with PD. This review aims to demonstrate the recent development of α-Syn LLPS, the underlying mechanism along with the microscopic events of aberrant phase transition. This review further discusses how several intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulate the thermodynamics and kinetics of α-Syn LLPS and co-LLPS with other proteins, which might explain the pathophysiology of α-Syn in various neurodegenerative diseases.
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42
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Pancoe SX, Wang YJ, Shimogawa M, Perez RM, Giannakoulias S, Petersson EJ. Effects of Mutations and Post-Translational Modifications on α-Synuclein In Vitro Aggregation. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167859. [PMID: 36270580 PMCID: PMC9922159 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Fibrillar aggregates of the α-synuclein (αS) protein are the hallmark of Parkinson's Disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Characterization of the effects of mutations and post-translational modifications (PTMs) on the αS aggregation rate can provide insight into the mechanism of fibril formation, which remains elusive in spite of intense study. A comprehensive collection (375 examples) of mutant and PTM aggregation rate data measured using the fluorescent probe thioflavin T is presented, as well as a summary of the effects of fluorescent labeling on αS aggregation (20 examples). A curated set of 131 single mutant de novo aggregation experiments are normalized to wild type controls and analyzed in terms of structural data for the monomer and fibrillar forms of αS. These tabulated data serve as a resource to the community to help in interpretation of aggregation experiments and to potentially be used as inputs for computational models of aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha X Pancoe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yanxin J Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marie Shimogawa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ryann M Perez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sam Giannakoulias
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - E James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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43
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Lysophospholipids: A Potential Drug Candidates for Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123126. [PMID: 36551882 PMCID: PMC9775253 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) commonly present misfolded and aggregated proteins. Considerable research has been performed to unearth the molecular processes underpinning this pathological aggregation and develop therapeutic strategies targeting NDs. Fibrillary deposits of α-synuclein (α-Syn), a highly conserved and thermostable protein, are a critical feature in the development of NDs such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy body disease (LBD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Inhibition of α-Syn aggregation can thus serve as a potential approach for therapeutic intervention. Recently, the degradation of target proteins by small molecules has emerged as a new therapeutic modality, gaining the hotspot in pharmaceutical research. Additionally, interest is growing in the use of food-derived bioactive compounds as intervention agents against NDs via functional foods and dietary supplements. According to reports, dietary bioactive phospholipids may have cognition-enhancing and neuroprotective effects, owing to their abilities to influence cognition and mental health in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanisms by which lipids may prevent the pathological aggregation of α-Syn warrant further clarification. Here, we review evidence for the potential mechanisms underlying this effect, with a particular focus on how porcine liver decomposition product (PLDP)-derived lysophospholipids (LPLs) may inhibit α-Syn aggregation.
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Wang Y, Zhang Z, Li B, He B, Li L, Nice EC, Zhang W, Xu J. New Insights into the Gut Microbiota in Neurodegenerative Diseases from the Perspective of Redox Homeostasis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:2287. [PMID: 36421473 PMCID: PMC9687622 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11112287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the body can lead to oxidative stress, which is one of the major causes of neurodegenerative diseases. The gut microbiota contains trillions of beneficial bacteria that play an important role in maintaining redox homeostasis. In the last decade, the microbiota-gut-brain axis has emerged as a new field that has revolutionized the study of the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, a growing number of studies have found that communication between the brain and the gut microbiota can be accomplished through the endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. Importantly, dysregulation of the gut microbiota has been strongly associated with the development of oxidative stress-mediated neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and redox homeostasis will help explain the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases from a new perspective and provide a theoretical basis for proposing new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we will describe the role of oxidative stress and the gut microbiota in neurodegenerative diseases and the underlying mechanisms by which the gut microbiota affects redox homeostasis in the brain, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we will discuss the potential applications of maintaining redox homeostasis by modulating the gut microbiota to treat neurodegenerative diseases, which could open the door for new therapeutic approaches to combat neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bowen Li
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bo He
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lei Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Edouard C. Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Wei Zhang
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Jia Xu
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Liu Y, Wei G, Ding F, Sun Y. Molecular Insights into the Misfolding and Dimerization Dynamics of the Full-Length α-Synuclein from Atomistic Discrete Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3126-3137. [PMID: 36278939 PMCID: PMC9797213 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The misfolding and pathological aggregation of α-synuclein forming insoluble amyloid deposits is associated with Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world population. Characterizing the self-assembly mechanism of α-synuclein is critical for discovering treatments against synucleinopathies. The intrinsically disordered property, high degrees of freedom, and macroscopic timescales of conformational conversion make its characterization extremely challenging in vitro and in silico. Here, we systematically investigated the dynamics of monomer misfolding and dimerization of the full-length α-synuclein using atomistic discrete molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggested that both α-synuclein monomers and dimers mainly adopted unstructured formations with partial helices around the N-terminus (residues 8-32) and various β-sheets spanning the residues 35-56 (N-terminal tail) and residues 61-95 (NAC region). The C-terminus mostly assumed an unstructured formation wrapping around the lateral surface and the elongation edge of the β-sheet core formed by an N-terminal tail and NAC regions. Dimerization enhanced the β-sheet formation along with a decrease in the unstructured content. The inter-peptide β-sheets were mainly formed by the N-terminal tail and NACore (residues 68-78) regions, suggesting that these two regions played critical roles in the amyloid aggregation of α-synuclein. Interactions of the C-terminus with the N-terminal tail and the NAC region were significantly suppressed in the α-synuclein dimer, indicating that the interaction of the C-terminus with the N-terminal tail and NAC regions could prevent α-synuclein aggregation. These results on the structural ensembles and early aggregation dynamics of α-synuclein will help understand the nucleation and fibrillization of α-synuclein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yuying Liu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Guanghong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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Saunders TS, Gadd DA, Spires‐Jones TL, King D, Ritchie C, Muniz‐Terrera G. Associations between cerebrospinal fluid markers and cognition in ageing and dementia: A systematic review. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5650-5713. [PMID: 35338546 PMCID: PMC9790745 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A biomarker associated with cognition in neurodegenerative dementias would aid in the early detection of disease progression, complement clinical staging and act as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials. The current systematic review evaluates the association between cerebrospinal fluid protein markers of synapse loss and neuronal injury and cognition. We performed a systematic search which revealed 67 studies reporting an association between cerebrospinal fluid markers of interest and neuropsychological performance. Despite the substantial heterogeneity between studies, we found some evidence for an association between neurofilament-light and worse cognition in Alzheimer's diseases, frontotemporal dementia and typical cognitive ageing. Moreover, there was an association between cerebrospinal fluid neurogranin and cognition in those with an Alzheimer's-like cerebrospinal fluid biomarker profile. Some evidence was found for cerebrospinal fluid neuronal pentraxin-2 as a correlate of cognition across dementia syndromes. Due to the substantial heterogeneity of the field, no firm conclusions can be drawn from this review. Future research should focus on improving standardization and reporting as well as establishing the importance of novel markers such as neuronal pentraxin-2 and whether such markers can predict longitudinal cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S. Saunders
- UK Dementia Research InstituteThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Center for Discovery Brain SciencesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Center for Clinical Brain SciencesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Center for Dementia PreventionThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Danni A. Gadd
- Center for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Tara L. Spires‐Jones
- UK Dementia Research InstituteThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Center for Discovery Brain SciencesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Declan King
- UK Dementia Research InstituteThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Center for Discovery Brain SciencesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Craig Ritchie
- Center for Clinical Brain SciencesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Center for Dementia PreventionThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Graciela Muniz‐Terrera
- Center for Clinical Brain SciencesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Center for Dementia PreventionThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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Metabolism and memory: α-synuclein level in children with obesity and children with type 1 diabetes; relation to glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity and executive functions. Int J Obes (Lond) 2022; 46:2040-2049. [PMID: 36153375 PMCID: PMC9584809 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-022-01222-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background/Objectives
Children with obesity and those with type 1diabetes (T1D) exhibit subtle neurocognitive deficits, the mechanism of which remains unknown. α-synuclein plays a fundamental role in neurodegeneration. Moreover, its role in glucose and lipids metabolism is emerging. This study aims to assess whether α-synuclein is correlated with the degree of neurodegeneration in children with obesity and those with T1D in comparison to healthy controls and correlate it to various neurocognitive and metabolic parameters.
Subjects/Methods
Forty children with obesity, 40 children with T1D and 40 matched-healthy controls were assessed for anthropometric measurements and blood-pressure. Cognitive evaluation was performed using Stanford–Binet scale and Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning (EF) Scale-Children and Adolescents. α-synuclein, fasting lipids and glucose were measured with calculation of the homeostatic model of insulin-resistance and estimated-glucose disposal rate.
Results
Children with obesity and those with T1D had significantly higher α-synuclein (p < 0.001) and total EF percentile (p = 0.001) than controls. α-synuclein was negatively correlated to total IQ (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001), and positively correlated with total EF percentile (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001) and EF symptom count percentile (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001) in children with T1D and obesity, respectively. Multivariate-regression revealed that α-synuclein was independently related to age (p = 0.028), diabetes-duration (p = 0.006), HbA1C% (p = 0.034), total IQ (p = 0.013) and EF symptom count percentile (p = 0.003) among children with T1D, and to diastolic blood-pressure percentile (p = 0.013), waist/hip ratio SDS (p = 0.007), total EF percentile (P = 0.033) and EF symptom count percentile (p < 0.001) in children with obesity.
Conclusion
α-synuclein could have a mechanistic role in neurocognitive deficit among children with obesity and T1D.
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Thorne NJ, Tumbarello DA. The relationship of alpha-synuclein to mitochondrial dynamics and quality control. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:947191. [PMID: 36090250 PMCID: PMC9462662 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.947191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of mitochondrial health is essential for neuronal survival and relies upon dynamic changes in the mitochondrial network and effective mitochondrial quality control mechanisms including the mitochondrial-derived vesicle pathway and mitophagy. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in driving the pathology of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) where dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra are selectively degenerated. In addition, many genes with PD-associated mutations have defined functions in organelle quality control, indicating that dysregulation in mitochondrial quality control may represent a key element of pathology. The most well-characterized aspect of PD pathology relates to alpha-synuclein; an aggregation-prone protein that forms intracellular Lewy-body inclusions. Details of how alpha-synuclein exerts its toxicity in PD is not completely known, however, dysfunctional mitochondria have been observed in both PD patients and models of alpha-synuclein pathology. Accordingly, an association between alpha-synuclein and mitochondrial function has been established. This relates to alpha-synuclein’s role in mitochondrial transport, dynamics, and quality control. Despite these relationships, there is limited research defining the direct mechanisms linking alpha-synuclein to mitochondrial dynamics and quality control. In this review, we will discuss the current literature addressing this association and provide insight into the proposed mechanisms promoting these functional relationships. We will also consider some of the alternative mechanisms linking alpha-synuclein with mitochondrial dynamics and speculate what the relationship between alpha-synuclein and mitochondria might mean both physiologically and in relation to PD.
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Schaffner SL, Kobor MS. DNA methylation as a mediator of genetic and environmental influences on Parkinson's disease susceptibility: Impacts of alpha-Synuclein, physical activity, and pesticide exposure on the epigenome. Front Genet 2022; 13:971298. [PMID: 36061205 PMCID: PMC9437223 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.971298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with a complex etiology and increasing prevalence worldwide. As PD is influenced by a combination of genetic and environment/lifestyle factors in approximately 90% of cases, there is increasing interest in identification of the interindividual mechanisms underlying the development of PD as well as actionable lifestyle factors that can influence risk. This narrative review presents an outline of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to PD risk and explores the possible roles of cytosine methylation and hydroxymethylation in the etiology and/or as early-stage biomarkers of PD, with an emphasis on epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of PD conducted over the past decade. Specifically, we focused on variants in the SNCA gene, exposure to pesticides, and physical activity as key contributors to PD risk. Current research indicates that these factors individually impact the epigenome, particularly at the level of CpG methylation. There is also emerging evidence for interaction effects between genetic and environmental contributions to PD risk, possibly acting across multiple omics layers. We speculated that this may be one reason for the poor replicability of the results of EWAS for PD reported to date. Our goal is to provide direction for future epigenetics studies of PD to build upon existing foundations and leverage large datasets, new technologies, and relevant statistical approaches to further elucidate the etiology of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Schaffner
- Edwin S. H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Edwin S. H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Jose S, Groves NJ, Roper KE, Gordon R. Mechanisms of NLRP3 activation and pathology during neurodegeneration. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2022; 151:106273. [PMID: 35926782 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2022.106273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that are mainly present in resident and infiltrating immune cells in the central nervous system. Inflammasomes function as intracellular sensors of immunometabolic stress, infection and changes in the local microenvironment. Inflammasome assembly in response to these 'danger signals', triggers recruitment and cluster-dependent activation of caspase-1 and the subsequent proteolytic activation of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. This is typically followed by a form of inflammatory cell death through pyroptosis. Since the discovery of inflammasomes in 2002, they have come to be recognized as central regulators of acute and chronic inflammation, a hallmark of progressive neurological diseases. Indeed, over the last decade, extensive inflammasome activation has been found at the sites of neuropathology in all progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Disease-specific misfolded protein aggregates which accumulate in neurodegenerative diseases, such as alpha synuclein or beta amyloid, have been found to be important triggers of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the central nervous system. Together, these discoveries have transformed our understanding of how chronic inflammation is triggered and sustained in the central nervous system, and how it can contribute to neuronal death and disease progression in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Therapeutic strategies around inhibition of NLRP3 activation in the central nervous system are already being evaluated to determine their effectiveness to slow progressive neurodegeneration. This review summarizes current understanding of inflammasomes in the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases and discusses current knowledge gaps and inflammasome inhibition as a therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jose
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalie J Groves
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathrein E Roper
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Richard Gordon
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia.
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